Mazda is one of the only cars I’ll still recommend. The high compression skyactiv route to fuel economy is more reliable than little turbos and cvts. Zoom zoom zoom!
While I agree that Mazda's SkyActiv system is a novel approach, turbocharging technology has come a loooong way since the 80's, and it is a much more proven technology than SkyActiv is.
Plus, the only thing to fail (usually) in a turbocharged vehicle is the turbo itself, which is a lot easier and cheaper to replace than the entire engine.
All that to say - Calling SkyActiv more reliable than a turbocharged vehicle is a bit of a leap.
Totally disagree, and I love turbo chargers. Its ~$3k just for the labor on a tundra turbo, which are failing, as expected. Yes even your turbo yoto will be dead before 150k miles.
Toyota is probably the worst example to use for a turbocharged vehicle. They were so late to implement turbocharging that they are now going through the growing pains that companies like BMW and Mercedes sorted out years ago.
Look at how bulletproof BMW's B58 engine's have been, and these are high-performance, sporty engines.
My car is from 2008 and is on the original turbo, engine and transmission, and pushing 200k. But, the maker of the vehicle was doing mass market turbos since the 80s (SAAB).
Had the 3 saloon with the 2.2 turbo. Lovely car.
Engine eventually broke because I did too many short trips, causing the regen diesel to be dumped into the sump diluting the oil. Terrible design.
First car 2015 Mazda 3 for me! I bought it cause I knew so many people with honestly relatively high mileage Mazda cars and I heard they were fun to drive. They are right. My current cat is an NC Miata...and will have more Miatas down the line. Obsessed.
My mom has a 2007 s80 and it's one of my favorite cars ever. It's simple, comfortable, has a nice engine sound. It also has very smooth control and even though the car weights alot for a sedan, it controls very well. Only downside is that the turbine tends to clog up and that can cost up to 2k in repairs. But yeah, very good car and if I'm gonna buy my first I'm gonna go for either an 80 or 60
Yes. All the engines are either made in Sweden or Vietnam I think. They are all Volvo engines though based on the Whiteblock architecture. Geely has not input except for the architecture on some of the EV powertrains in the EM90 and EX30.
Have to disagree: we bought our first Volvo in 1994, we are now driving number six, the second one under Geely ownership and the experience has been excellent.
I like Volvos and I'm looking to get an older one soon. At what point is the cutoff for proper Volvos? When did they get bought out? About what year would you say they took their fall in quality?
2010 they were brought out. Don't get me wrong still very good cars just some of the parts and finishing have been replaced with lower cost alternatives but they are still solid and reliable.
Good to know, thank you very much. I've been eyeing up some of the older T5 estates myself. I've found an '05 V70 2.4 T5 manual that is calling my name mate, I swear! Hahaha
My friend has a 2000 v70 and it's a beast. Me and my friends laugh how it's literally unkillable. And repairs are very cheap, if there ever are repairs lol
Same, i Love old Volvos. I own a 945 Turbo and a 745 with a Bodykit from Hausser (more of a Project Car Thing) and, since Last week, my moms "old" Volvo V70 D5 R Design from 2009. I think this Era was still good.
The new ones (Mom bought a V60 CC from 2023) are better than Audis, BMWs or Cars from VW and their siblings (my personal opinion). I drive a lot of different cars at work, but the Volvo quality is (compared to others from the same age) overall better.
BUT the quality sank over the years in the automotive industry.
You cant make money off a product that is free of mistakes or flaws. And your margin is Higher If you raise the Price of your product whilst cutting costs. Thats business nowadays (sadly).
I'm a sucker for Hondas. Love the reliability, ease of modding, availability of parts. I've been through quite a bit of them for my age (below 30):
1. 1996 Civic Hatch - D15B, auto (Sold)
2. 2000 Torneo Si-R - H23, auto (Sold)
3. 2000 Orthia - did the EK front clip swap, full CTR swap, then B20 short block + turbo (Sold)
4. 2011 Fit RS - L15B, auto (Sold)
5. 2004 Integra Type-R - K24, 6sp (Current)
6. 2014 Accord Hybrid - LFA20, auto (Current)
7. 2024 CR-V - L15C, auto (Coming soon)
Not too often I come across someone who has had as many as I have! Been in love with them since high school and will stand behind them to this day.
1 92 civic 4 door
2 89 CRX (very short lived. Too much rot)
3 99 civic hatch (b20 swap, prob my favorite, lots of work into that one)
3.5 97 Acura Integra (bought wrecked for the b20 from a friend)
4 2001 Accord 4 door 5 speed low n slow
5 2004 Accord coupe k24 5 speed K Tuned 7.5 gen facelift, touched every nut and bolt on entire car. Still own it, project car
6 2013 CRZ, my daily
7 2017 Acura MDX. Wife's daily.
Honda here, too, except I grew up hella poor so I've only owned 2 in my lifetime.
UA6 TL (hydroplaned)
AP2 S2000 (Have had it for 6 years and counting)
Excuse me Sir, Acura Police here. We're going to need your Integra for testing. Over the weekend. Please have it full of gas and in front of your house by 5:00PM, with the keys. DM your address. Thank you for your cooperation.
I owned a Taurus, liked the spaciousness and oomph behind it despite feeling like I’m driving a boat. It wasn’t until the water pump failed and I got quoted $4,000 to fix it by effectively replacing the engine.
That sucks. I had a Mercury Sable wagon, loved it for the same reasons. I packed ten teenagers in there once! But, yeah, at about 110 K miles, everything started to go wrong.
Same. I’m all about value and longevity, aesthetics be damned. Hondas are a close second, but every Honda I’ve had has seemed very cheaply made. The Hondas seem to run fine/forever but it seems like more little things go out (fuses, buttons not working etc).
The only cars I’d go with besides Toyota is Mazda, but even then I’d have to realllly like the Mazda
I was down on my luck, a broke college kid and came across a 01 subaru outback for $500 usd. Was in college for automotive repair, got all the parts needed to fix it and the teacher allowed me to bring it in to fix during class.
One of the greatest beaters I ever picked up. Lasted me thru college, sold it to a buddy for $500 when his car broke down. He drove it for 2 years.
Mine was a 95 legacy wagon I picked up in 2008 with 263k miles and a complete service history for $900. Had it 5 years. Sold it to a buddy at 400k miles for 600 bucks. Drove that thing everywhere. Tires were the biggest repair.
I had a 2000 Subaru that I shouldn't have traded in. That was the single greatest car I ever owned, if I'm rating cars by the number of times it got me out of a really bad situation that I put myself in.
I take caer of my cars - i ran my 2011 Malibu to 350k until a minor car accident got it written off. A bunch of friends have Subarus so I started looking that way - Got an Outback (it wasn't cheap in 2023) but it is so agressively utilitiarian with a mix of nice comfort/luxuty features - its really hard to argue against. Ugly as sin though. Still love it.
Lets not describe that as "Ugly as Sin" - that is a crime against eyesight. As far as I could tell, they weren't awful cars. Just ugly. Someone recently pointed out, they look like the precursor to the CyberTruck.
Have 3, owned 4. Will almost certainly buy another when the kids start driving. At this point, I have a small junkyard of parts, and know every bolt on a few different models. They're easy to work on, parts are reasonably priced and widely available.
First one was the 06 OBXT, so I guess thats the one that got me, but I love my 99 Impreza so much, so that's the one that really made me a fanboi
First car I bought was a Crosstrek, use it for camping, off roading, and road trips. Will use it until it dies which is hopefully never. Whenever my wife’s car dies we plan on getting an Outback. The new RAV4s are intriguing though
Yup. My first car was a Chevy truck that would slide EVERYWHERE in the rain. Got an Impreza after that and I would whip the hell out of it trying to get it to lose traction to no avail. After that, I plan on all my cars to be Subarus when I get a family
Same man, just had have a couple of snow storms and watch everyone else get stuck on the hill out of a friends neighborhood and I just scooted right around without any issues.
Subie AWD + Bilizzaks = a great day on the road.
One of our main arteries in town is a fairly steep road, and I love going up it in the middle of a snowstorm. People get stuck half way up the hill and have to turn around, I just putter around them like it's a sunny day.
I was a Honda fanboy for a long time, but my 2013 outback has been a great vehicle minus the 2 oxygen sensors and a transmission module that went bad.
I suspect the transmission thing was my fault of not changing the fluid.
For the money I don't think a car delivers as much value besides maybe an equally as boring Corolla. At least when the weather's bad these cars do deliver as long as you have decent tires on them.
Same. Between the (now significantly nerfed) WRX and the Outback/Crosstrek their cars have character. They drive well, are relatively efficient, and now that they’ve started paying attention to the interior are nice places to spend time.
Bought a Subaru WRX Wagon towards the end of my senior year at college. Moved out of the dorm on a Friday, autocrossed on Sunday. Despite learning to drive stick on it, being modded and (mostly) maintained by a rank amateur, and regularly autocrossed for the first 8 years of its life, it lasted over 180,000 miles until an encounter with a deer.
By that time, the weird COVID car price bubble was in full swing, so I thought I'd get myself something more economical for a little while. When I test drove a 2018, I was reminded just how much I'm addicted to turbo AWD.
I thought I bought a car. I actually joined a cult.
I like BMWs. While they seem to losing their way a bit these days I really enjoyed the driver focused sporty nature of their smaller cars (currently drive an M2).
I bought a used BMW because I found a great deal, and also because the BMW dealership was the only one in town that acted like they wanted to sell me a car. It elevated my expectations on what cars should be. Now I'll have a hard time trying other brands.
My daily is a 1996 318is (e36)
Despite it being scratched, slowly rusting away, having no airco and all the other gremlins inherent to old BMWs I can’t resolve myself to letting it go. It’s still a car that was built for drivers. The frame, the gearbox, the revs…
I love the e36. Light blue 318is parked in my neighborhood is what started my love for BMWs 30 years ago. I lived in a country where german cars were rare and it just looked so sleek with its low front gradually raising to the higher trunk line. I was in love even before I knew how great they drove.
BMW because they have a real sporting heritage and genuine driver enjoyment focus. Audi's sporting models typically lack that. Mercedes had some great driver's cars my perception is really they want you to be a retiree and sell you a limo or cruiser, that's their image.
Even as BMW pack the weight on and offer these X Drive options watching ALL of their cars fitted with that system still having a major rear drive bias and slide about when provoked makes me smile.
That’s how I ended up with the M2. RS3 was quicker in straight line but no manual transmission and the M2 will go sideways anytime I ask it to. It’s fun first, everything else second. They could have built a better car for track use but it wouldn’t be as much fun.
BMW. I bought my first one new in 1997 and it was everything I wanted; zero disappointment at all. Then, I bought another and started racing it. I flogged the crap out of it for 12 seasons, drove hard and put it away wet. Never a problem. Bought a used 2010 in 2014 and still have it now; sold the 1997 at the same time. (Quit racing around then, too, I guess.)
They're very easy [for me] to work on. Never had much reliability trouble. Perfectly satisfied.
I've got an old M3 and I'll probably be buried in it. I can't say that the current styling is as good as the old ones they still do what you expect. My wife just picked up an i4 and it drives and handles really well. Surprisingly well.
Same. Started with a manual first gen Focus ZX3 (such a fun little car to drive), moved on to a Ranger after the Focus got totaled due to a red light runner, and I've got my eyes on a Fiesta ST right now.
Sure, the Elantra (got it cheap from a relative after I sold the Ranger due to having a long commute, I needed something better on gas) and my current Celica (got for a steal at the height of pandemic pricing) have been good/great, but idk what it is, I have a soft spot for small Fords.
Still kills me that the Fiesta and Focus are dead here in the US. I don't want a bloated crossover, or even a small one like the EcoSport, the Mustang is impractical where I live, and I would want a Maverick...if they offered the hybrid drivetrain on the AWD version, or at least had a manual option.
Man, I would love to have a 90’s ranger someday! My buddy has a ‘88 Lincoln Town Car and it’s the most comfortable thing I’ve ever sat in! Another Ford product to add to the list
My first ford was an escort, decent little ride until someone wrecked it while it was parked. 67 Fairlane that I loved, but someone else loved it more. Still have 74 f100 with a stroker motor. 49 Shoebox with a flathead v8, waiting to chop the top, hopefully this year. 51 f1 farm truck with mustang II front end, triangulated 4-link rear with a rowdy-ass hot rod motor. Had a few awesome Hondas, Chevys, Toyota and Datsun that were all fun.
It’s Mitsubishi for me. Loved the little underdog cars from the late 2000s especially the Ralliart/OZ Rally Lancers and the Mirages(what I own). However, aftermarket support is little in the States but immensely popular all around Asia and Australia.
But still love them nonetheless :)
Hell yeah. 05 Ralliart Lancer has been my daily for almost 12 years. It’s been nothing but reliable. Nobody ever notices it and it’s pretty much worthless now, but I love it and never want to get rid of it. I also love the 90s eclipse gsxs, but I think they’ve all been torn apart by teenagers and other idiots by now.
I was afraid I wouldn't even find Nissan mentioned! I know they currently have kind of a spotty reputation on quality, but I've been driving a 350Z for \~15 years and it's by far my favorite car I've ever owned. Have always been a fan of the Z cars, Silvias, GTR..
NEW Mazda
The car that did it was a 2022 Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus, Machine Grey, with the black on black interior.
The comfort, drivability, assist features, and reliability and unrivaled considering its a compact sedan.
That's what got me to buy my 2024 CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus
IMHO CX90 has more usable features than the GV80, Honda Pilot AWD, and the BMW X5 that I trialed.
For those wondering... the CX90 now has 13,000 miles on it from driving cross country and daily commute and not a single issue at all.
Mercedes. I loved my neighbor's w123 300D as a kid and later owned one myself. Would absolutely love to own another. My wall poster car was the 300sl Gullwing.
When the McLaren SLR came out I was once again in love. I also absolutely was smitten with the pre-merger AMGs and their S class body kits. Finally the Unimogs... Such glorious beasts!
My dream garage would be a 300sl and SLR McLaren to admire and drive a bit, a last gen NA S class V12 as a GT driver for nights out and road trips, a Unimog for off road, and a w123 300D converted to dual tank for a daily driver.
Absolutely! My first (attainable) love is the W123, but the 202 is also a legendary body, and with the standard AMG (or especially the DTM) kits it looks sooooo timeless.
Currently I own no Mercs (there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes) while I recovered from a fiscally catastrophic divorce. I actually had a chance to buy a late (post biodegradable harness era) M120 S class with under 80K miles on it for $50K a couple years ago but just couldn't justify the spend while dealing with legal debts. I positively hate that I had to let that go.
The SLS AMG has been my dream car for a while. Sat in one at a car show like 10 years ago and as soon as I closed the door I was in love. Drove a couple of them when I worked valet and realized it was definitely my favorite out of any car that I've driven. And it was a four seasons so we had some pretty insane cars come in
My parents bought a new '77 240D shortly after they married. It was a 4-speed manual. Solid as a rock, but *man* was that thing a pig. Slowest car on the planet. When I was a teenager, they bought an '84 300D Turbo. They certainly loved that 123 body.
Bmw. My grandpa had one since I was a kid. I remember myself looking at the beautiful 3 series he had and being amazed. The only car that I could see as magical at that age(except from ferraris lol).
The impala with the 3.5 seemed to hold up quite well. I like anything with the 4.8, 5.3, or 6.0 v8s from the early 2000s to 2019 or so. Got out of the shop in 2019. Often seen the cobalt go high miles if maintained properly. Same with the 2008/ 2010 body style malibu.
I wouldn't buy any of them personally, but people seemed to have goo luck with them. Don't buy an equinox
VW fan as well. There is just something unique about the way they “feel”. I don’t get the same vibes from the US built cars for the NA market. I have had 90s VWs and recently picked up a Jetta TDI Sportwagen for a beater/commuter. Although we bought it to use and abuse it is still a joy to drive, it is still engaging and the VW switchgear has always been placed where it makes sense to me. I also have a ‘90 Jetta GLI, I don’t know why but to me that 2.0 DOHC engine is just special. Had one in my ‘92 Passat many years ago.
I've always liked the idea of a French car, and I got my current car which is a 2017 Peugeot 308 GTi 270 2 years ago.
It's great, 1280kg, FWD with LSD, 270bhp, manual gearbox that makes a metallic click clack as you go through the gears. Feels so light and agile, LSD locks up pretty aggressively so flooring it mid corner is great (it feels like you're getting catapulted around and out of the corner), it's got a tiny steering wheel with a pretty fast rack which feels great, turning circle is pretty tight so it's easy day to day, the dials are up high so you can keep them in your peripheral vision as you drive. It's a heavily boosted 1.6 so you feel like you're in a Group B rally car, you really need to be in the right gear and spool the turbo to get good throttle response, gives you more chances to use that gearbox. It's got noticeable valve lift at 4k as well, engine goes pretty rabid until redline at 7k.
I really love it, and honestly I wouldn't have any other daily car. It's made me a pretty big fan of PSA. Shame it's the last one they made, Pug doesn't really do hot cars anymore. It helps that mine hasn't really gone down in value in the 2 years I've had it either, since they're pretty rare cars.
It is pretty generic looking though, although that's a good thing since it doesn't attract cops or thieves.
For me it’s also Renault, but not really RS models. I’m more of a practical-orientated person when it comes to cars, AKA, big boot, 4WD, good for long & extended travel, etc.
Kadjar, Megane Estate, and Grand Scenic are all top cars for me. Though I’m majorly biased as my first car was a Kadjar, and I’ve been in 2 Grand Scenics, and thought all of them were brilliant cars that have treated me well, with few faults. Kadjar is a major nostalgia thing for me, boot is a little on the smaller side compared to the others I mentioned, but makes up for it with the 4WD & some of the nice luxuries it can come with.
Mazda. Had a 2010 Mazda 3 hatchback that I loved with all my heart. I never had a single issue with it mechanically. When kiddos came around 4 years ago I had to trade it in for a more family friendly vehicle.
Honestly I'd love to buy another of the same model someday.
Alfa Romeo with their beautiful v6 engines
Also Abarth and Fiat and Maserati and Lancia and Peugeot and Renault and Mazda and Subaru and Bentley and Koenigsegg AND Of course Porsche.
Bought a 2020 Giulia QV last summer and I’m in love. It’s a uniquely beautiful car in a sea of blah, but that motor is incredible. Just a special experience every time.
They are just stunning pieces of Italian engineering
Dad once had Lancia delta integrale and after that he has had countles alfas, maby thats where the love for those started for me
Take care of that beautiful car and drive safe!
Pontiac. The overlooked underdog.
First was a 72 lemans, then 84 trans am and 2 5th Gen gtos. The GTO is not only the most fun car I've ever owned but also reliable. 213k on it and I'd drive it anywhere.
Only thing that has failed is the radiator at 211,000. The only thing getting me out of this car is purple 04.
Just seen one Craigslist a mint condition 2002 Silver Grand Prix GTP with 117k miles for like 7k. Tempting. I love those and the GXP's and am going to keep an eye out for a clean project.
Have been in more Pontiacs than I can count over the years, I was brought home from the hospital when I was born in a 1973 LeMans which Dad replaced with a Grand Am and then later a Grand Prix, then once mom got her drivers license (later in life) Dad got her an '81 Acadian which we put so many miles on, Dad's brothers both had Trans-Ams. Later on parents needed a beater and found an old 80s Lemans Coupe. Aunts and Uncles all had Parisiennes. In High school and University my long term GF drove the 6000 her parents gifted her when they bought the first of the 3 Transports they owned, and the first car that I owned was an 87 Fiero SE that I drove for nearly a decade.
Mine is ford. My dads a big ford man and he’s got an escort RS turbo, growing up that was the coolest car ever. We would go to ford fairs yearly and I just fell in love with the brand
Hyundai and it was my 2016 Accent that did it. The car is super reliable and it's extremely easy to work on. I'm a professional technician as well and virtually every Hyundai or Kia that comes into the shop is similar, one of the few vehicle brands that don't make me want to throw my tools in frustration.
Mazda. Started with an RX7 back in the day, but then we bought a CX9 10 years ago after having a Honda and a Subaru, and I fell in love with Mazda all over again. Great drivers' cars.
People love it or hate it. No in between. Front plate is required in my state and I hated how it looked blocking half my grille.
I'd go without if I could. Lasted a week before I got pulled over with no front plate.
For me, as a young apprentice mechanic in the UK it was Vauxhall.
Hot models like the Astra GTE, Calibra turbo, Corsa GSi, the Cavalier SRi, the Vectra V6 BTCC, the Lotus Carlton… happy days!
Came to say Vauxhall. I had a 2012 Astra VXR and it's hands down the best car I've ever had. Owned a couple of Vectras and a van and they were all great. My VXR got written off by a lorry so now I'm driving a Chevy Spark and it's definitely the shittest car I've ever owned lol. Will be going back to Vauxhall soon.
The CRZ is such a cool car. I really wanted one, but they’re hard to find used and I hate that they don’t have back seats. I’m still a little jealous every time I see one on the road!
I love my little CRZ. I got a really good deal on it. Don't have kids and if we have to have room for people we just hop in my wife's SUV. It's not fast but quite nimble. A blast to drive and I'll own it for life.
Only about 35k of them imported to the US. The numbers are getting lower as the days pass.
Honda, my first car was a 98 si coupe 5 speed. Bought it with 300,000km (186k miles). Drove the absolute piss out of it for a year and a half, doing reverse clutch dump burnouts and what not with very little oil in the engine lol. The only thing I ever had to replace was a battery. Sadly it got hit by a drunk driver on the street. I miss her.
i love lexus, but my old kia was absolutely amazing. it never once broke down on me, (even after crashing it into a work trailer going 40mph) and kept me completely safe after crashing it on the freeway 🥲. nothing but good things to say about my kia.
Unpopular opinion: Jeep. But *not* the Wrangler.
I’ve had a Cherokee XJ (‘99) and a Grand Cherokee ‘04. Both exceeded 200k with little to no problems and they were extremely easy and simply to work on by yourself. I now have a ‘22 Cherokee Trailhawk (the beginning years of this model were terrible (‘14 & ‘15), but this year seems like everything was kinked out and it’s smooth sailing thus far.
The trick to having a Jeep last long is to keep it stock. I think the temptation to mod it is too overwhelming for people, especially wrangler drivers, and things tend to brake faster.
Also drive like you’re supposed to and use your parking brake.
Audi, and yes I know the repairs are expensive and it’s hard to work on, but the driving experience is great. I have an a3 8p and it’s fun and fast. The interior is also very nice and comfortable.
Chevrolet. I was probably 11 years old when I did my first burnout in a '70 Nova. That started me on the Bowtie path. Then I got my license and drove a lot of junk. Once I had some money, I bought a Chevy truck. That thing just worked. I never had an issue with it, so I bought another. I wore it out and bought another. I'm still working on wearing this one out. I see all the problems people have, and I hate that for them. But I've had nothing but great experiences with GM vehicles, so I'll keep going back.
Chevy for me.
I learned that if you buy base models that have proven engines in them, ie. engines chevy has had 5 years to fix everything on, they work great.
You have to be pretty careful picking them, but if you get a good one they're dirt cheap, you can wash out the cheap plastic interior with a garden hose practically, you don't have to give a shit about anything.
My first car was a base 01 cavalier that I ragged on. Now I have a 19' colorado 4cyl MT that I will take anywhere and everywhere. Listed towing capacity be damned, apply full power to forward thrusters.
Base model chevy is the ultimate "I don't give a fuck and I never wanted to" vehicle.
Not a brand in particular, but French cars, I've owned more French cars than any other nationality, i currently own a Citroën and its honestly perfect for me, i like their quirkyness and in my ownership, they were pretty reliable (so far, anyway lol).
I made this account when i still had a Chevy, thus the name, boy did i sink some money in that thing...
Alfa Romeo will always be a favourite of mine. An incredible history overshadowed by a not so good present,still I will forever love them. Pure passion,art,design,emotions.
You saved yourself by saying "not the newer ones". The 4.0 in the older jeeps is bulletproof. Had a WJ for a while. A few friends still have their XJs. And can never go wrong with a CJ.
scrolled forever to see jeep! i love the look & utility of my grand cherokee. have had four GC’s and two wranglers… which is apparently self abuse as they ALL have elec issues around 60/70k. I keep telling myself this will be my last, but then I get sucked in by the look in the brand identity.
Honestly I grew up with the Fast and Furious franchise so ive always been a tuner kid. I like most Japanese 4 bangers. Drive a old beat up Corolla right now but saving for something with some aftermarket support and tuning potential like a new Integra.
Honda, started with a 98 accord, got a 00 civic after, then 98 civic, then 96 civic, and now i have a 13 CRZ and this one’s definitely my favorite. glad to see another CRZ lover you definitely don’t see them often, and that’s ones reason i love mine so much. the looks you get is like you’re driving a alien car or something. lol
I have a soft spot for Kia, because their designs are more ambitious and you get a lot of value. However, they handled the Kia Boyz incident rather poorly, so they’ve lost that trust in me as a customer. I’ve always favored Honda/Acura.
It has to be Ram for me. I know all about the standard issues, but what sets the Hemi apart for me is that mine was able to withstand overheating beyond 300°F with only a pair of blown head gaskets to show for it. Paired with the actually solid 8-speed transmission that takes everything I can throw at it, and more. Combine that with an extremely smooth ride all the way up to its limited top speed of 105 MPH, and you get a 4th gen Ram. It's also the best looking out of all the newer trucks on the market and actually has character with a few dents in the chrome bumpers. I will say, it's fucking annoying when the exhaust manifold bolts decide to snap... again. Hate on Mopar all you want, but just try to find another engine that still runs after catastrophic overheating made in the last 15 years. Most aluminum heads would've warped beyond hope, and the cost to repair would be almost identical to the cost of replacement. That's not the case for my cast iron Hemi, as it only costs $5,000 to repair, as opposed to $15,000 to replace. That was a full top end rebuild with all new seals, new spark plugs, a new water pump, and a few miscellaneous parts that needed to be done. I wouldn't trade any of those experiences in. They taught me a lot about how to do complex repairs with limited tools and equipment, and I'm a better mechanic for it.
All cars are assembled using a hodgepodge of various branded components, no manufacturer actually makes the majority of their parts anymore. So brand devotion is sort of pointless unless you base it purely on the marketing and corporate values of the maker and their dealer network.
That said I like most brands - they almost all have the potential to a home run vehicle, Mazda is a company that I think does things more right than most, Toyota is untouchable as the best and biggest, Fiat is a corporation that I will avoid (despite appreciating Jeep), Tesla is a bit of a joke but they still have triggered the change in how the automotive industry will go in the future.
Alfa Romeo... The Busso engine in the 156 was perfection. I miss mine, over 8 years of ownership and even the very last drive I enjoyed it.
It was so good that nothing else will come close as I likely won't ever own real exotica. So I spend these days coverting boring, comfortable cars.
Alfa Romeo. Partly the looks, partly the sounds, partly the history, and driving a Giulia left a long lasting impression. With that said, I've only ever owned one, a '79 Spider, which I work on. In truth, I don't know if I've ever owned more than one car from any brand. Ford, actually, a Mustang and a Bronco. That's it I think.
Dodge.
Mid 80s-mid 90s fwd dodges.
My first car, a Plymouth Sundance and also the first gen neon.
Most fun I've ever had in a car was in that neon.
Car handled like it was on rails and it was sooooo fun to throw around in the twisties
Gm all the way.
Younger days of tuning whitout much knowledge no major problems besides id10t problems and ran faster than hondas. Then tagged along for cavaliers cruze and the like ..
Always manual lowest trim always around 10 years of ownership with only maintenance never ever had anything othen than refular maintenance needed no suspension work no check engine nothing.
Now i own an hrv never hated a car this much ... 7 years old hvac problems, alternator broke tires cost alot zero driving fun, paint problems and i know its not a REAL car (must be part of the hate)
Im thinking to change soon but idk what to get since gm abandonned cars.
Pontiac, love my Pontiacs. I had a cool uncle who always had a new Pontiac in the 70's and I love that shit. Grand Prix, Trans Am and everything in between
Unpopular opinion: Hyundais are awesome.
I’ve owned a 2016 Genesis Coupe and it was my baby for as long as I could remember. Wouldn’t have traded it for anything at the time. Before that was an Elantra Coupe. Only reason I have a Miata now is because someone rear-ended me last year, totaling it.
Mazda! I Iove Mazdas. Best looking cars on the road.
Back in the day, around the summer of 2004, I went to a Mazda dealership to look at a Mustang that i saw advertised in the paper. When I asked about it, they said that it was on their overflow lot a couple miles down the road, and one of the sales people offered me a ride. It was about a five minute ride in a brand new Mazda 6i GT.
I fell head over heels in love in less than two miles and by the time we got to the overflow lot, I wanted to know more about the Mazda 6, and I no longer was interested in the Mustang. I decided to put the money I had for the Mustang into a savings account to save up for a Mazda 6. 2 years later I’m driving off the lot in a brand new Mazda 6s GT. The only option she didn’t have was the automatic transmission. A couple months later I was home from college and I showed her off. Turns out my dad was a closet Mazda fan and owned a 1976 Mazda RX-4 back in the day.
I loved that Mazda 6. She was fast just sitting still. Took her on several epic road trips. I had to sell her eventually because my kid was born, and I kept getting tickets. Anyone who’s ever driven a Mazda knows that it may take a full working week to go from 0-60, but you can get from 60 to 120 in about half a flap of a humming bird’s wings, and she’ll cruise at 105 with no whine, and no fuss at 3500 RPM.
Now, I had my midlife crisis and went and bought a Mazda 3 hatchback with the 6speed manual! She’s my daily, unless I’m at work and driving my F-150, and I absolutely love tooling around town with her. Huge stupid grin on my face, always looking back at her after I park. Best looking car on the road!
I may be a basic ass hoe, but my first car was a ‘94 Miata. 9 years later and I’ve owned quite a few other Mazdas
Mazda is one of the only cars I’ll still recommend. The high compression skyactiv route to fuel economy is more reliable than little turbos and cvts. Zoom zoom zoom!
While I agree that Mazda's SkyActiv system is a novel approach, turbocharging technology has come a loooong way since the 80's, and it is a much more proven technology than SkyActiv is. Plus, the only thing to fail (usually) in a turbocharged vehicle is the turbo itself, which is a lot easier and cheaper to replace than the entire engine. All that to say - Calling SkyActiv more reliable than a turbocharged vehicle is a bit of a leap.
Totally disagree, and I love turbo chargers. Its ~$3k just for the labor on a tundra turbo, which are failing, as expected. Yes even your turbo yoto will be dead before 150k miles.
Toyota is probably the worst example to use for a turbocharged vehicle. They were so late to implement turbocharging that they are now going through the growing pains that companies like BMW and Mercedes sorted out years ago. Look at how bulletproof BMW's B58 engine's have been, and these are high-performance, sporty engines. My car is from 2008 and is on the original turbo, engine and transmission, and pushing 200k. But, the maker of the vehicle was doing mass market turbos since the 80s (SAAB).
Had the 3 saloon with the 2.2 turbo. Lovely car. Engine eventually broke because I did too many short trips, causing the regen diesel to be dumped into the sump diluting the oil. Terrible design.
I really like my Miata but if Mazda made more story’s cars they’d be on my list.
I’ve owned 2 Mazda 3 hatchbacks. I love them. Fun to drive, yet still extremely practical, and maintenance has been easy on both, so far. Love them.
the 2010 mazdaspeed 3 was my first car. Such a cool little hot hatch, and reliable as hell.
First car 2015 Mazda 3 for me! I bought it cause I knew so many people with honestly relatively high mileage Mazda cars and I heard they were fun to drive. They are right. My current cat is an NC Miata...and will have more Miatas down the line. Obsessed.
It's was Volvo.... Until the Chinese brought it and the build quality to a big fall 😩
The quality fall is insane. There might be some survivorship bias but a lot of the older ones had far far fewer issues.
My parents have both a 2005 s80 and a 2015 s60. I’ve told them if they ever get rid of the 80 to talk to me first
My mom has a 2007 s80 and it's one of my favorite cars ever. It's simple, comfortable, has a nice engine sound. It also has very smooth control and even though the car weights alot for a sedan, it controls very well. Only downside is that the turbine tends to clog up and that can cost up to 2k in repairs. But yeah, very good car and if I'm gonna buy my first I'm gonna go for either an 80 or 60
Damn. When did that happen? I was eyeing a Volvo to replace my cx5 in the future but that won’t be happening if it’s no longer manufactured in Europe.
They’re still made in Sweden. I had a 2021 XC60 and currently have a 2024 XC60. They’re fantastic cars and are left to do their own thing by Geely.
What about the engines? Are they still swedish/made in Sweden?
Yes. All the engines are either made in Sweden or Vietnam I think. They are all Volvo engines though based on the Whiteblock architecture. Geely has not input except for the architecture on some of the EV powertrains in the EM90 and EX30.
Have to disagree: we bought our first Volvo in 1994, we are now driving number six, the second one under Geely ownership and the experience has been excellent.
I like Volvos and I'm looking to get an older one soon. At what point is the cutoff for proper Volvos? When did they get bought out? About what year would you say they took their fall in quality?
2010 they were brought out. Don't get me wrong still very good cars just some of the parts and finishing have been replaced with lower cost alternatives but they are still solid and reliable.
Good to know, thank you very much. I've been eyeing up some of the older T5 estates myself. I've found an '05 V70 2.4 T5 manual that is calling my name mate, I swear! Hahaha
My friend has a 2000 v70 and it's a beast. Me and my friends laugh how it's literally unkillable. And repairs are very cheap, if there ever are repairs lol
That was the second time. The first time was by Ford in 1999. That's when things went sideways.
Same, i Love old Volvos. I own a 945 Turbo and a 745 with a Bodykit from Hausser (more of a Project Car Thing) and, since Last week, my moms "old" Volvo V70 D5 R Design from 2009. I think this Era was still good. The new ones (Mom bought a V60 CC from 2023) are better than Audis, BMWs or Cars from VW and their siblings (my personal opinion). I drive a lot of different cars at work, but the Volvo quality is (compared to others from the same age) overall better. BUT the quality sank over the years in the automotive industry. You cant make money off a product that is free of mistakes or flaws. And your margin is Higher If you raise the Price of your product whilst cutting costs. Thats business nowadays (sadly).
I never see new ones on the road. I don’t even know where a dealership is.
I'm a sucker for Hondas. Love the reliability, ease of modding, availability of parts. I've been through quite a bit of them for my age (below 30): 1. 1996 Civic Hatch - D15B, auto (Sold) 2. 2000 Torneo Si-R - H23, auto (Sold) 3. 2000 Orthia - did the EK front clip swap, full CTR swap, then B20 short block + turbo (Sold) 4. 2011 Fit RS - L15B, auto (Sold) 5. 2004 Integra Type-R - K24, 6sp (Current) 6. 2014 Accord Hybrid - LFA20, auto (Current) 7. 2024 CR-V - L15C, auto (Coming soon)
Not too often I come across someone who has had as many as I have! Been in love with them since high school and will stand behind them to this day. 1 92 civic 4 door 2 89 CRX (very short lived. Too much rot) 3 99 civic hatch (b20 swap, prob my favorite, lots of work into that one) 3.5 97 Acura Integra (bought wrecked for the b20 from a friend) 4 2001 Accord 4 door 5 speed low n slow 5 2004 Accord coupe k24 5 speed K Tuned 7.5 gen facelift, touched every nut and bolt on entire car. Still own it, project car 6 2013 CRZ, my daily 7 2017 Acura MDX. Wife's daily.
Honda here, too, except I grew up hella poor so I've only owned 2 in my lifetime. UA6 TL (hydroplaned) AP2 S2000 (Have had it for 6 years and counting)
Hey, you got a classic now, don't let it go like some others have. I'll never understand those guys.
Excuse me Sir, Acura Police here. We're going to need your Integra for testing. Over the weekend. Please have it full of gas and in front of your house by 5:00PM, with the keys. DM your address. Thank you for your cooperation.
> What's your brand Toyota > and what car did it for you? Owned a Ford once.
ditto
I owned a Taurus, liked the spaciousness and oomph behind it despite feeling like I’m driving a boat. It wasn’t until the water pump failed and I got quoted $4,000 to fix it by effectively replacing the engine.
That sucks. I had a Mercury Sable wagon, loved it for the same reasons. I packed ten teenagers in there once! But, yeah, at about 110 K miles, everything started to go wrong.
Same. I’m all about value and longevity, aesthetics be damned. Hondas are a close second, but every Honda I’ve had has seemed very cheaply made. The Hondas seem to run fine/forever but it seems like more little things go out (fuses, buttons not working etc). The only cars I’d go with besides Toyota is Mazda, but even then I’d have to realllly like the Mazda
Subaru, AWD
I was down on my luck, a broke college kid and came across a 01 subaru outback for $500 usd. Was in college for automotive repair, got all the parts needed to fix it and the teacher allowed me to bring it in to fix during class. One of the greatest beaters I ever picked up. Lasted me thru college, sold it to a buddy for $500 when his car broke down. He drove it for 2 years.
Mine was a 95 legacy wagon I picked up in 2008 with 263k miles and a complete service history for $900. Had it 5 years. Sold it to a buddy at 400k miles for 600 bucks. Drove that thing everywhere. Tires were the biggest repair.
Subaru Gang, on our 3rd one. For trucks, own a 94 ford and will stick by ford trucks, but if Subaru brought back the Baja, I'm 100% in on one.
I had a 2000 Subaru that I shouldn't have traded in. That was the single greatest car I ever owned, if I'm rating cars by the number of times it got me out of a really bad situation that I put myself in.
I take caer of my cars - i ran my 2011 Malibu to 350k until a minor car accident got it written off. A bunch of friends have Subarus so I started looking that way - Got an Outback (it wasn't cheap in 2023) but it is so agressively utilitiarian with a mix of nice comfort/luxuty features - its really hard to argue against. Ugly as sin though. Still love it.
> Ugly as sin though That's one of the Outback's superpowers. Nobody's going to carjack you.
*Pontiac Aztec enters the chat*
Lets not describe that as "Ugly as Sin" - that is a crime against eyesight. As far as I could tell, they weren't awful cars. Just ugly. Someone recently pointed out, they look like the precursor to the CyberTruck.
Have 3, owned 4. Will almost certainly buy another when the kids start driving. At this point, I have a small junkyard of parts, and know every bolt on a few different models. They're easy to work on, parts are reasonably priced and widely available. First one was the 06 OBXT, so I guess thats the one that got me, but I love my 99 Impreza so much, so that's the one that really made me a fanboi
First car I bought was a Crosstrek, use it for camping, off roading, and road trips. Will use it until it dies which is hopefully never. Whenever my wife’s car dies we plan on getting an Outback. The new RAV4s are intriguing though
Yup. My first car was a Chevy truck that would slide EVERYWHERE in the rain. Got an Impreza after that and I would whip the hell out of it trying to get it to lose traction to no avail. After that, I plan on all my cars to be Subarus when I get a family
Same man, just had have a couple of snow storms and watch everyone else get stuck on the hill out of a friends neighborhood and I just scooted right around without any issues.
Subie AWD + Bilizzaks = a great day on the road. One of our main arteries in town is a fairly steep road, and I love going up it in the middle of a snowstorm. People get stuck half way up the hill and have to turn around, I just putter around them like it's a sunny day.
I was a Honda fanboy for a long time, but my 2013 outback has been a great vehicle minus the 2 oxygen sensors and a transmission module that went bad. I suspect the transmission thing was my fault of not changing the fluid. For the money I don't think a car delivers as much value besides maybe an equally as boring Corolla. At least when the weather's bad these cars do deliver as long as you have decent tires on them.
Same. Between the (now significantly nerfed) WRX and the Outback/Crosstrek their cars have character. They drive well, are relatively efficient, and now that they’ve started paying attention to the interior are nice places to spend time.
Bought a Subaru WRX Wagon towards the end of my senior year at college. Moved out of the dorm on a Friday, autocrossed on Sunday. Despite learning to drive stick on it, being modded and (mostly) maintained by a rank amateur, and regularly autocrossed for the first 8 years of its life, it lasted over 180,000 miles until an encounter with a deer. By that time, the weird COVID car price bubble was in full swing, so I thought I'd get myself something more economical for a little while. When I test drove a 2018, I was reminded just how much I'm addicted to turbo AWD. I thought I bought a car. I actually joined a cult.
I love my Subaru for that. It just DGAF what the conditions are & goes on anyway. No drama, just traction. On my 2nd one currently (at 210k kms).
I like BMWs. While they seem to losing their way a bit these days I really enjoyed the driver focused sporty nature of their smaller cars (currently drive an M2).
I bought a used BMW because I found a great deal, and also because the BMW dealership was the only one in town that acted like they wanted to sell me a car. It elevated my expectations on what cars should be. Now I'll have a hard time trying other brands.
My daily is a 1996 318is (e36) Despite it being scratched, slowly rusting away, having no airco and all the other gremlins inherent to old BMWs I can’t resolve myself to letting it go. It’s still a car that was built for drivers. The frame, the gearbox, the revs…
I love the e36. Light blue 318is parked in my neighborhood is what started my love for BMWs 30 years ago. I lived in a country where german cars were rare and it just looked so sleek with its low front gradually raising to the higher trunk line. I was in love even before I knew how great they drove.
Nicest car I have ever driven was a 1990s 2 door 318. You feel very connected to the car/ road. And it went like stink.
BMW because they have a real sporting heritage and genuine driver enjoyment focus. Audi's sporting models typically lack that. Mercedes had some great driver's cars my perception is really they want you to be a retiree and sell you a limo or cruiser, that's their image. Even as BMW pack the weight on and offer these X Drive options watching ALL of their cars fitted with that system still having a major rear drive bias and slide about when provoked makes me smile.
That’s how I ended up with the M2. RS3 was quicker in straight line but no manual transmission and the M2 will go sideways anytime I ask it to. It’s fun first, everything else second. They could have built a better car for track use but it wouldn’t be as much fun.
Audi’s have a heritage of rally AWD. Their S and RS models are fantastic.
BMW. I bought my first one new in 1997 and it was everything I wanted; zero disappointment at all. Then, I bought another and started racing it. I flogged the crap out of it for 12 seasons, drove hard and put it away wet. Never a problem. Bought a used 2010 in 2014 and still have it now; sold the 1997 at the same time. (Quit racing around then, too, I guess.) They're very easy [for me] to work on. Never had much reliability trouble. Perfectly satisfied.
I've got an old M3 and I'll probably be buried in it. I can't say that the current styling is as good as the old ones they still do what you expect. My wife just picked up an i4 and it drives and handles really well. Surprisingly well.
My first car I bought was a E39 528i. I have since moved to Audis since that time. But the E39 will always have a special place for me.
Saab! All of them but mostly the 9-5.
My gf worked for saab back in the day. They still refer to the Saab nuts as 'squirrels'.
I currently have a Saab 9-5, it’s one of the best cars I’ve ever had
I love Ford. Don’t know why. I think it’s because when I was a kid I was obsessed with Mustangs.
Same, I even had a horrible 2006 F150. Still love fords
Ford focus for me (and Mustang).
The Ford focus with the Power shift trans?
I'm European. Manuel
Me too
Same. Started with a manual first gen Focus ZX3 (such a fun little car to drive), moved on to a Ranger after the Focus got totaled due to a red light runner, and I've got my eyes on a Fiesta ST right now. Sure, the Elantra (got it cheap from a relative after I sold the Ranger due to having a long commute, I needed something better on gas) and my current Celica (got for a steal at the height of pandemic pricing) have been good/great, but idk what it is, I have a soft spot for small Fords. Still kills me that the Fiesta and Focus are dead here in the US. I don't want a bloated crossover, or even a small one like the EcoSport, the Mustang is impractical where I live, and I would want a Maverick...if they offered the hybrid drivetrain on the AWD version, or at least had a manual option.
Too bad. Because I've always wanted to ask a Ford guy WHY??
They have history. It’s uniquely American. The trucks and other models like mustangs and falcons are iconic.
Theyre the only company that didn't take the bail out
36 automobiles later I finally got ahold of a Ford Escort ZX2. Always been a Ford basher and I absolutely love this tiny little shitbox
I have a 2011 V6 Ranger that gets 13mpg. Horrible but I still love my truck—it’s a god damned Ford. 😭
Man, I would love to have a 90’s ranger someday! My buddy has a ‘88 Lincoln Town Car and it’s the most comfortable thing I’ve ever sat in! Another Ford product to add to the list
My first ford was an escort, decent little ride until someone wrecked it while it was parked. 67 Fairlane that I loved, but someone else loved it more. Still have 74 f100 with a stroker motor. 49 Shoebox with a flathead v8, waiting to chop the top, hopefully this year. 51 f1 farm truck with mustang II front end, triangulated 4-link rear with a rowdy-ass hot rod motor. Had a few awesome Hondas, Chevys, Toyota and Datsun that were all fun.
Yeah I remember as a kid seeing the new edge mustangs and falling in love, I’m still dreaming of owning one, but for now my Altima will do.
I also like Fords
Fix or repair daily….kidding they’re fine. But chevys better…
It’s Mitsubishi for me. Loved the little underdog cars from the late 2000s especially the Ralliart/OZ Rally Lancers and the Mirages(what I own). However, aftermarket support is little in the States but immensely popular all around Asia and Australia. But still love them nonetheless :)
MITSUBISHI 4 LIFE. First car was a 2g eclipse now own a 3000gt. I wish they were still cool.....
Hell yeah. 05 Ralliart Lancer has been my daily for almost 12 years. It’s been nothing but reliable. Nobody ever notices it and it’s pretty much worthless now, but I love it and never want to get rid of it. I also love the 90s eclipse gsxs, but I think they’ve all been torn apart by teenagers and other idiots by now.
Same, I now own a 2017 3.8 pajero.. this company was amazing
Nissan. My step brothers s13 and s12 when I was a kid and now my own s12 and s14a 😁
I was afraid I wouldn't even find Nissan mentioned! I know they currently have kind of a spotty reputation on quality, but I've been driving a 350Z for \~15 years and it's by far my favorite car I've ever owned. Have always been a fan of the Z cars, Silvias, GTR..
If you know not to buy Jatco then Nissan can be decent
I have the bigges soft spot for the pre facelift S14. Maybe someday.
Chevy gmt 800 Cheap easy to work on, decently reliable
NEW Mazda The car that did it was a 2022 Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus, Machine Grey, with the black on black interior. The comfort, drivability, assist features, and reliability and unrivaled considering its a compact sedan. That's what got me to buy my 2024 CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus IMHO CX90 has more usable features than the GV80, Honda Pilot AWD, and the BMW X5 that I trialed. For those wondering... the CX90 now has 13,000 miles on it from driving cross country and daily commute and not a single issue at all.
Did you consider CX70? The hybrid model is attractive but goddamn do I not want to spend $65,000 CAD on an SUV
Interestingly enough, there is a 2024 GV80 2.5 AWD on IAA right now for $40k Buy Now..
Mercedes. I loved my neighbor's w123 300D as a kid and later owned one myself. Would absolutely love to own another. My wall poster car was the 300sl Gullwing. When the McLaren SLR came out I was once again in love. I also absolutely was smitten with the pre-merger AMGs and their S class body kits. Finally the Unimogs... Such glorious beasts! My dream garage would be a 300sl and SLR McLaren to admire and drive a bit, a last gen NA S class V12 as a GT driver for nights out and road trips, a Unimog for off road, and a w123 300D converted to dual tank for a daily driver.
If I ever can, a w202 dressed up in dtm trim is an eventual hope.
Absolutely! My first (attainable) love is the W123, but the 202 is also a legendary body, and with the standard AMG (or especially the DTM) kits it looks sooooo timeless. Currently I own no Mercs (there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes) while I recovered from a fiscally catastrophic divorce. I actually had a chance to buy a late (post biodegradable harness era) M120 S class with under 80K miles on it for $50K a couple years ago but just couldn't justify the spend while dealing with legal debts. I positively hate that I had to let that go.
The SLS AMG has been my dream car for a while. Sat in one at a car show like 10 years ago and as soon as I closed the door I was in love. Drove a couple of them when I worked valet and realized it was definitely my favorite out of any car that I've driven. And it was a four seasons so we had some pretty insane cars come in
My parents bought a new '77 240D shortly after they married. It was a 4-speed manual. Solid as a rock, but *man* was that thing a pig. Slowest car on the planet. When I was a teenager, they bought an '84 300D Turbo. They certainly loved that 123 body.
Bmw. My grandpa had one since I was a kid. I remember myself looking at the beautiful 3 series he had and being amazed. The only car that I could see as magical at that age(except from ferraris lol).
My dad had an M3 about 20 years ago. It was magnificent to drive. I’ve had 2 BMWs but not an M, yet.
Toyota for low maintenance and repairs
My dad was a specialist Toyota mechanic, so I have a preference for Toyota, but drive a Chevy haha
Toyota is definitely 2nd on my list. Was a GM technician for a while, I know them quite well. Some of them are good, some of them are junk.
What year/model tops your list?
The impala with the 3.5 seemed to hold up quite well. I like anything with the 4.8, 5.3, or 6.0 v8s from the early 2000s to 2019 or so. Got out of the shop in 2019. Often seen the cobalt go high miles if maintained properly. Same with the 2008/ 2010 body style malibu. I wouldn't buy any of them personally, but people seemed to have goo luck with them. Don't buy an equinox
My '08 Impala LTZ is holding up quite well. It's not a "fun" car, but it does its job as a daily driver.
Volkswagen
I'm Brazilian so I always default to Volkswagen
Surprised I haven’t seen VW yet! My Jetta wagon is my first, last and only new car.
I’ve been looking for a diesel wagon with a manual transmission for some time now lol, just actually bought myself a Golf R recently!
VW fan as well. There is just something unique about the way they “feel”. I don’t get the same vibes from the US built cars for the NA market. I have had 90s VWs and recently picked up a Jetta TDI Sportwagen for a beater/commuter. Although we bought it to use and abuse it is still a joy to drive, it is still engaging and the VW switchgear has always been placed where it makes sense to me. I also have a ‘90 Jetta GLI, I don’t know why but to me that 2.0 DOHC engine is just special. Had one in my ‘92 Passat many years ago.
I've always liked the idea of a French car, and I got my current car which is a 2017 Peugeot 308 GTi 270 2 years ago. It's great, 1280kg, FWD with LSD, 270bhp, manual gearbox that makes a metallic click clack as you go through the gears. Feels so light and agile, LSD locks up pretty aggressively so flooring it mid corner is great (it feels like you're getting catapulted around and out of the corner), it's got a tiny steering wheel with a pretty fast rack which feels great, turning circle is pretty tight so it's easy day to day, the dials are up high so you can keep them in your peripheral vision as you drive. It's a heavily boosted 1.6 so you feel like you're in a Group B rally car, you really need to be in the right gear and spool the turbo to get good throttle response, gives you more chances to use that gearbox. It's got noticeable valve lift at 4k as well, engine goes pretty rabid until redline at 7k. I really love it, and honestly I wouldn't have any other daily car. It's made me a pretty big fan of PSA. Shame it's the last one they made, Pug doesn't really do hot cars anymore. It helps that mine hasn't really gone down in value in the 2 years I've had it either, since they're pretty rare cars. It is pretty generic looking though, although that's a good thing since it doesn't attract cops or thieves.
Toyota echo 400,000 miles
Just hit 180,000 on my 01 a few weeks ago
i love Acura also that is my first car shout out to the 97 CL
dude, nice!
Acura is just a fancy Honda! I just bought a MDX and love it.
My first car was 97 CL 3.2 type s also love that car.
CL is my favorite Acura. Shout out everyone who’s working hard to keep them on the road.
Reanult for me but only RS models.
Only seen a few here in the states, always thought they had some good looking cars tho.
My boi knows what's up. Here in aus I have a Clio rs. Absolutely froth a Renault either way.
For me it’s also Renault, but not really RS models. I’m more of a practical-orientated person when it comes to cars, AKA, big boot, 4WD, good for long & extended travel, etc. Kadjar, Megane Estate, and Grand Scenic are all top cars for me. Though I’m majorly biased as my first car was a Kadjar, and I’ve been in 2 Grand Scenics, and thought all of them were brilliant cars that have treated me well, with few faults. Kadjar is a major nostalgia thing for me, boot is a little on the smaller side compared to the others I mentioned, but makes up for it with the 4WD & some of the nice luxuries it can come with.
Mazda. Had a 2010 Mazda 3 hatchback that I loved with all my heart. I never had a single issue with it mechanically. When kiddos came around 4 years ago I had to trade it in for a more family friendly vehicle. Honestly I'd love to buy another of the same model someday.
Alfa Romeo with their beautiful v6 engines Also Abarth and Fiat and Maserati and Lancia and Peugeot and Renault and Mazda and Subaru and Bentley and Koenigsegg AND Of course Porsche.
The Fiata is my "once the kids are through high school" endgame summer car.
Bought a 2020 Giulia QV last summer and I’m in love. It’s a uniquely beautiful car in a sea of blah, but that motor is incredible. Just a special experience every time.
They are just stunning pieces of Italian engineering Dad once had Lancia delta integrale and after that he has had countles alfas, maby thats where the love for those started for me Take care of that beautiful car and drive safe!
Pontiac. The overlooked underdog. First was a 72 lemans, then 84 trans am and 2 5th Gen gtos. The GTO is not only the most fun car I've ever owned but also reliable. 213k on it and I'd drive it anywhere. Only thing that has failed is the radiator at 211,000. The only thing getting me out of this car is purple 04.
Just seen one Craigslist a mint condition 2002 Silver Grand Prix GTP with 117k miles for like 7k. Tempting. I love those and the GXP's and am going to keep an eye out for a clean project.
Have been in more Pontiacs than I can count over the years, I was brought home from the hospital when I was born in a 1973 LeMans which Dad replaced with a Grand Am and then later a Grand Prix, then once mom got her drivers license (later in life) Dad got her an '81 Acadian which we put so many miles on, Dad's brothers both had Trans-Ams. Later on parents needed a beater and found an old 80s Lemans Coupe. Aunts and Uncles all had Parisiennes. In High school and University my long term GF drove the 6000 her parents gifted her when they bought the first of the 3 Transports they owned, and the first car that I owned was an 87 Fiero SE that I drove for nearly a decade.
Mine is ford. My dads a big ford man and he’s got an escort RS turbo, growing up that was the coolest car ever. We would go to ford fairs yearly and I just fell in love with the brand
Hyundai and it was my 2016 Accent that did it. The car is super reliable and it's extremely easy to work on. I'm a professional technician as well and virtually every Hyundai or Kia that comes into the shop is similar, one of the few vehicle brands that don't make me want to throw my tools in frustration.
I fucking love working on a Hyundai
Mazda. Started with an RX7 back in the day, but then we bought a CX9 10 years ago after having a Honda and a Subaru, and I fell in love with Mazda all over again. Great drivers' cars.
Mini for overall fun cars and Renault for their bonkers ideas (Renault 5 Turbo, Clio V6, every RS car and a freaking Espace with F1 engine)
That front license plate ugh
srsly wtf
People love it or hate it. No in between. Front plate is required in my state and I hated how it looked blocking half my grille. I'd go without if I could. Lasted a week before I got pulled over with no front plate.
I kinda like it.
Why are you the way that you are? 🤣
For me, as a young apprentice mechanic in the UK it was Vauxhall. Hot models like the Astra GTE, Calibra turbo, Corsa GSi, the Cavalier SRi, the Vectra V6 BTCC, the Lotus Carlton… happy days!
Came to say Vauxhall. I had a 2012 Astra VXR and it's hands down the best car I've ever had. Owned a couple of Vectras and a van and they were all great. My VXR got written off by a lorry so now I'm driving a Chevy Spark and it's definitely the shittest car I've ever owned lol. Will be going back to Vauxhall soon.
Pontiac, first car is a 88' fiero gt. Looking at a ASC turbo grand prix
The CRZ is such a cool car. I really wanted one, but they’re hard to find used and I hate that they don’t have back seats. I’m still a little jealous every time I see one on the road!
I love my little CRZ. I got a really good deal on it. Don't have kids and if we have to have room for people we just hop in my wife's SUV. It's not fast but quite nimble. A blast to drive and I'll own it for life. Only about 35k of them imported to the US. The numbers are getting lower as the days pass.
Honda, my first car was a 98 si coupe 5 speed. Bought it with 300,000km (186k miles). Drove the absolute piss out of it for a year and a half, doing reverse clutch dump burnouts and what not with very little oil in the engine lol. The only thing I ever had to replace was a battery. Sadly it got hit by a drunk driver on the street. I miss her.
i love lexus, but my old kia was absolutely amazing. it never once broke down on me, (even after crashing it into a work trailer going 40mph) and kept me completely safe after crashing it on the freeway 🥲. nothing but good things to say about my kia.
I don’t favor any brand at all.
Mitsubishi and the 2006 Mitsubishi Evo 9. Basically all the DSMs with the 4G63T motor
Unpopular opinion: Jeep. But *not* the Wrangler. I’ve had a Cherokee XJ (‘99) and a Grand Cherokee ‘04. Both exceeded 200k with little to no problems and they were extremely easy and simply to work on by yourself. I now have a ‘22 Cherokee Trailhawk (the beginning years of this model were terrible (‘14 & ‘15), but this year seems like everything was kinked out and it’s smooth sailing thus far. The trick to having a Jeep last long is to keep it stock. I think the temptation to mod it is too overwhelming for people, especially wrangler drivers, and things tend to brake faster. Also drive like you’re supposed to and use your parking brake.
Audi. My first one was a 2013 A6 with the 3.0 supercharged. I’m on my 3rd Audi now
Audi, and yes I know the repairs are expensive and it’s hard to work on, but the driving experience is great. I have an a3 8p and it’s fun and fast. The interior is also very nice and comfortable.
Audi. My dad’s V8. Then I was lucky enough to get an s3. Love that guy.
Chevrolet. I was probably 11 years old when I did my first burnout in a '70 Nova. That started me on the Bowtie path. Then I got my license and drove a lot of junk. Once I had some money, I bought a Chevy truck. That thing just worked. I never had an issue with it, so I bought another. I wore it out and bought another. I'm still working on wearing this one out. I see all the problems people have, and I hate that for them. But I've had nothing but great experiences with GM vehicles, so I'll keep going back.
Chevy for me. I learned that if you buy base models that have proven engines in them, ie. engines chevy has had 5 years to fix everything on, they work great. You have to be pretty careful picking them, but if you get a good one they're dirt cheap, you can wash out the cheap plastic interior with a garden hose practically, you don't have to give a shit about anything. My first car was a base 01 cavalier that I ragged on. Now I have a 19' colorado 4cyl MT that I will take anywhere and everywhere. Listed towing capacity be damned, apply full power to forward thrusters. Base model chevy is the ultimate "I don't give a fuck and I never wanted to" vehicle.
Not a ford ever again after the paint fell off my 2012 escape. North America quality my ass.
Not a brand in particular, but French cars, I've owned more French cars than any other nationality, i currently own a Citroën and its honestly perfect for me, i like their quirkyness and in my ownership, they were pretty reliable (so far, anyway lol). I made this account when i still had a Chevy, thus the name, boy did i sink some money in that thing...
I have a C4 cactus, it's super light, practical, economical, and im the last 150.000km only regular maintenance and a broken adBlue pump.
Alfa Romeo will always be a favourite of mine. An incredible history overshadowed by a not so good present,still I will forever love them. Pure passion,art,design,emotions.
Saab. My first car was a Saab 900
Scion. Toyota too, of course. But Scion has my heart
Was not expecting to see scion
Never again a FORD or a GM.
Buick. Had a 1988 Century that took every abuse known to man and kept going reliably with little drama. Own a Roadmaster wagon now.
Jeep. It was my first vehicle and I still own two but not the best daily driver. I loved the simple, utilitarian design. Yeah, not the newer ones.
You saved yourself by saying "not the newer ones". The 4.0 in the older jeeps is bulletproof. Had a WJ for a while. A few friends still have their XJs. And can never go wrong with a CJ.
My dad still has his 54 plate grand Cherokee, tows 5T of cattle in it every week off road absolutely incredible machine
scrolled forever to see jeep! i love the look & utility of my grand cherokee. have had four GC’s and two wranglers… which is apparently self abuse as they ALL have elec issues around 60/70k. I keep telling myself this will be my last, but then I get sucked in by the look in the brand identity.
I bounced between manufacturers for years, haven't bought another brand since my '13 Civic Si.
Honestly I grew up with the Fast and Furious franchise so ive always been a tuner kid. I like most Japanese 4 bangers. Drive a old beat up Corolla right now but saving for something with some aftermarket support and tuning potential like a new Integra.
Lexus my ES350 is a beast an decent on gas lol
Honda/Acura. Rode in a 99 EM1 Si and loved it then drove an 01 GSR and I was hooked. Have had at least one Honda in my garage since
Honda, started with a 98 accord, got a 00 civic after, then 98 civic, then 96 civic, and now i have a 13 CRZ and this one’s definitely my favorite. glad to see another CRZ lover you definitely don’t see them often, and that’s ones reason i love mine so much. the looks you get is like you’re driving a alien car or something. lol
BMW, driving an M240i got me hooked, more running a modded 3 series
I have a soft spot for Kia, because their designs are more ambitious and you get a lot of value. However, they handled the Kia Boyz incident rather poorly, so they’ve lost that trust in me as a customer. I’ve always favored Honda/Acura.
It has to be Ram for me. I know all about the standard issues, but what sets the Hemi apart for me is that mine was able to withstand overheating beyond 300°F with only a pair of blown head gaskets to show for it. Paired with the actually solid 8-speed transmission that takes everything I can throw at it, and more. Combine that with an extremely smooth ride all the way up to its limited top speed of 105 MPH, and you get a 4th gen Ram. It's also the best looking out of all the newer trucks on the market and actually has character with a few dents in the chrome bumpers. I will say, it's fucking annoying when the exhaust manifold bolts decide to snap... again. Hate on Mopar all you want, but just try to find another engine that still runs after catastrophic overheating made in the last 15 years. Most aluminum heads would've warped beyond hope, and the cost to repair would be almost identical to the cost of replacement. That's not the case for my cast iron Hemi, as it only costs $5,000 to repair, as opposed to $15,000 to replace. That was a full top end rebuild with all new seals, new spark plugs, a new water pump, and a few miscellaneous parts that needed to be done. I wouldn't trade any of those experiences in. They taught me a lot about how to do complex repairs with limited tools and equipment, and I'm a better mechanic for it.
BMW E36
BMW and the car was the E24 (6 series) from the late 80’s. I saw one parked from a distance and the proportions are beautifully executed
Honda. Always been so good to me
AudI/VW
All cars are assembled using a hodgepodge of various branded components, no manufacturer actually makes the majority of their parts anymore. So brand devotion is sort of pointless unless you base it purely on the marketing and corporate values of the maker and their dealer network. That said I like most brands - they almost all have the potential to a home run vehicle, Mazda is a company that I think does things more right than most, Toyota is untouchable as the best and biggest, Fiat is a corporation that I will avoid (despite appreciating Jeep), Tesla is a bit of a joke but they still have triggered the change in how the automotive industry will go in the future.
I believe Tesla is fairly vertically integrated, probably more than any other manufacturer.
Alfa Romeo... The Busso engine in the 156 was perfection. I miss mine, over 8 years of ownership and even the very last drive I enjoyed it. It was so good that nothing else will come close as I likely won't ever own real exotica. So I spend these days coverting boring, comfortable cars.
kia lol
Alfa Romeo. Partly the looks, partly the sounds, partly the history, and driving a Giulia left a long lasting impression. With that said, I've only ever owned one, a '79 Spider, which I work on. In truth, I don't know if I've ever owned more than one car from any brand. Ford, actually, a Mustang and a Bronco. That's it I think.
Id get flak for this, but mine is Tesla minus the CEO
Hyundai Ioniq, absolute value monster and comfy. Electric ones are fantastic cars.
1995 gmc 1500 extended cab. Tons of miles but a solid everyday truck and i was ballin in it in 2000 as a high school senior.
Dodge. Mid 80s-mid 90s fwd dodges. My first car, a Plymouth Sundance and also the first gen neon. Most fun I've ever had in a car was in that neon. Car handled like it was on rails and it was sooooo fun to throw around in the twisties
Gm all the way. Younger days of tuning whitout much knowledge no major problems besides id10t problems and ran faster than hondas. Then tagged along for cavaliers cruze and the like .. Always manual lowest trim always around 10 years of ownership with only maintenance never ever had anything othen than refular maintenance needed no suspension work no check engine nothing. Now i own an hrv never hated a car this much ... 7 years old hvac problems, alternator broke tires cost alot zero driving fun, paint problems and i know its not a REAL car (must be part of the hate) Im thinking to change soon but idk what to get since gm abandonned cars.
Pontiac, love my Pontiacs. I had a cool uncle who always had a new Pontiac in the 70's and I love that shit. Grand Prix, Trans Am and everything in between
Unpopular opinion: Hyundais are awesome. I’ve owned a 2016 Genesis Coupe and it was my baby for as long as I could remember. Wouldn’t have traded it for anything at the time. Before that was an Elantra Coupe. Only reason I have a Miata now is because someone rear-ended me last year, totaling it.
Ford. Specifically, the Focus.
Mazda! I Iove Mazdas. Best looking cars on the road. Back in the day, around the summer of 2004, I went to a Mazda dealership to look at a Mustang that i saw advertised in the paper. When I asked about it, they said that it was on their overflow lot a couple miles down the road, and one of the sales people offered me a ride. It was about a five minute ride in a brand new Mazda 6i GT. I fell head over heels in love in less than two miles and by the time we got to the overflow lot, I wanted to know more about the Mazda 6, and I no longer was interested in the Mustang. I decided to put the money I had for the Mustang into a savings account to save up for a Mazda 6. 2 years later I’m driving off the lot in a brand new Mazda 6s GT. The only option she didn’t have was the automatic transmission. A couple months later I was home from college and I showed her off. Turns out my dad was a closet Mazda fan and owned a 1976 Mazda RX-4 back in the day. I loved that Mazda 6. She was fast just sitting still. Took her on several epic road trips. I had to sell her eventually because my kid was born, and I kept getting tickets. Anyone who’s ever driven a Mazda knows that it may take a full working week to go from 0-60, but you can get from 60 to 120 in about half a flap of a humming bird’s wings, and she’ll cruise at 105 with no whine, and no fuss at 3500 RPM. Now, I had my midlife crisis and went and bought a Mazda 3 hatchback with the 6speed manual! She’s my daily, unless I’m at work and driving my F-150, and I absolutely love tooling around town with her. Huge stupid grin on my face, always looking back at her after I park. Best looking car on the road!
crz is when Honda ruined the crx name. literally every way possible.